Dorsey: There is no definite first round QB

[RunKC]

No clear quarterback choice for Chiefs in the draft
By ADAM TEICHER
Kansas City Star
Published Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013, at 3:36 p.m.
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Pros and cons
Matt Barkley, 6-2, 230, USC: Superb leadership skills, the first one at practice or meetings and the last one to leave. But his arm strength is suspect. May be a system fit.

Mike Glennon, 6-7, 220, North Carolina State: Strong arm. He’s easily able to make all the necessary throws. But a lack of mobility could be a problem against a strong pass rush.

Ryan Nassib, 6-2, 225, Syracuse: Good mobility and throws well on the run. But he’s a late-bloomer who might need more seasoning before he’s ready for the NFL.

Geno Smith, 6-3, 210, West Virginia: Has best ability of all the top prospects. Was durable in college, but he’s not an imposing specimen. So how will he hold up in the NFL?

Tyler Wilson, 6-2, 220, Arkansas: Will stand in and take a hit but still make an accurate throw. But he’s short for an ideal NFL quarterback and has small hands, which could lead to fumbling problems.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs spent the last several days setting their draft board in preparation for this week’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. The process merely confirmed for new general manager John Dorsey that when it comes to quarterbacks, their homework is only starting.

Opinions on the top available quarterbacks in this year’s draft are that varied.

“There is no quarterback where personnel guys can definitely say, ‘He’s a first-round pick,’ ” Dorsey said. “There were so many inconsistencies in the collective group. There was not one guy that stood up and said, ‘I’m the guy in the position this year.’ There really wasn’t one clear-cut guy.

“There are too many technical flaws, scheme flaws. There are so many different variables that there are a lot of people all over the place on naming the top four or five guys and who those guys would be.”

The Chiefs aren’t the only team having trouble sorting through the top quarterback prospects. From the natural ability of West Virginia’s Geno Smith to the smooth leadership skills of USC’s Matt Barkley to the willingness to take a hit in the face of a strong pass rush of Arkansas’ Tyler Wilson, there are plenty of things to like.

There are reasons to pause just the same. Smith faltered late last fall against better competition. Barkley and Wilson had disappointing, injury-marred senior seasons.

This is a particular problem for teams like the Chiefs, who have a gaping need at quarterback. Dorsey didn’t say so specifically, but he didn’t sound like the Chiefs were planning to take a quarterback with the first pick in this year’s draft.

More likely, the Chiefs will select a quarterback later in the draft — if they take one at all.

Dorsey said both he and coach Andy Reid would be in attendance at the workouts of most, if not all, of the top available quarterbacks.

“I think Andy is a really good evaluator of quarterbacks,” Dorsey said. “I want him and I to go to as many quarterback workouts as possible and actually set our own up.”

The quarterback rankings for last year’s draft were determined almost a year in advance. Stanford’s Andrew Luck was a consensus choice to be the top player selected as soon as the 2011 draft was finished. Baylor’s Robert Griffin III came on as a senior to win the Heisman Trophy and make the race interesting, but in the end, Luck was selected first by Indianapolis. Griffin was taken with the next pick by Washington.

“Last year was an easy evaluation,” draft analyst Mel Kiper said. “Automatically, you put Andrew Luck and RG III up there.”

This year, quarterback ratings are scattered. Some teams like Smith, but others have different favorites, like Barkley, Wilson, North Carolina State’s Mike Glennon or Syracuse’s Ryan Nassib.

“The year didn’t go the way Barkley and the USC Trojans hoped,” Kiper said. “He began the year number one on my big board. You saw what happened with USC. They lost four games with Barkley at quarterback and lost a couple more when he was hurt. They didn’t have a signature win all year. They dropped down the rankings from number one and he dropped down the rankings from number one.

“Geno Smith started out great. It looked like after Barkley struggled you could lock Geno Smith in. Then he has a disappointing second half of the season, so there are issues in terms of what type of starting quarterback he can be. Glennon was hot for a while even though he had a subpar supporting cast, and he didn’t play great (in the bowl game) against Vanderbilt and didn’t have a wow-you-over Senior Bowl week.

“Things didn’t fall into place at Arkansas, and that affected Tyler Wilson. The wheels came off for all the quarterbacks at some point (last) year. Things just didn’t fall right to allow them to maximize their ability. That’s why the teams are right now in the predicament they are, trying to figure this whole quarterback thing out and not overdraft or push a guy up when he’s not deserving.”

Kiper doesn’t have a quarterback rated among his top 25 players. In fact, in his latest mock draft, Kiper doesn’t have a single quarterback being selected in the first round.

“It’s just a tough evaluation, trying to figure out which quarterbacks in this draft, if any, will be great starting quarterbacks,” he said.

Dorsey said he expects at least two quarterbacks to be drafted in the first round because so many teams have a need. It’s a matter, though, of which ones.

Things could solidify in the next couple of months. The draft doesn’t begin until April 25. Meanwhile, the combine begins this week, followed by pro days on college campuses and then individual workouts.

To Dorsey, at least, personal interviews might be the most important part of the postseason draft process. He said a quarterback can improve his draft standing with a series of strong interviews.

“The most impressive interview I’ve ever had in the last 25 years of doing this? Russell Wilson,” said Dorsey, referring to the quarterback drafted by Seattle last year in the third round. “Wasn’t even close. You could feel that guy as a person, how strong he was, how intellectually deep he was, how mentally tough he was, that he had the charisma to lead other players. I always try to look at kids like I’m in the locker room and I’m a teammate. It was easy to see this guy leading a team.

“A quarterback wants to come across in the interview process as confident, as having a vast understanding and knowledge of defenses, as being capable of leading a group of men. That’s what you’ve got to convey to the teams. On film, his physical traits and skills will come out. But you have to over the next few weeks impress on teams the character of his soul, his ability to lead a franchise.”

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2013/02/16/267...#storylink=cpy

[NJChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

I get that. Sorry, but it pisses me off a lot that this thread has turned into an ultimatum that Dorsey is somehow a douche bag or is an incompetent prick stealing credit in green bay.

If he decides not to pick geno, I understand if people want to measure Dorsey's career on how his qb pick does vs geno. We all should. But the agenda of this thread to suddenly piss on our gm because he may not like our guy is overreactive nonsense.

No. Its about the Chiefs never having a QB, never trying, and some still not realizing we need one. It's about a fear that maybe we still won't get one. Or a deeper fear that one isn't there to be had.

I happen to think Geno is worth the pick, or in other words, worth the risk. The anger here isn't about Dorsey, it's about our situation. People acting like the pro-QB guys are babies or guys not willing to give the GM a chance are just taking a chance to climbing up on their high-horse. If people are so rational and level-headed to "see" past the emotion of this pick as some say it, then you should also be aware enough to see where the actual anger is both coming from and directed at.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

What a ****ing ridiculous post.

Yes, I think other players besides a QB can help a 2-14 team.

Jesus ****ing christ.

Do I want them over a QB, no, but there's other players that can help a garbage team.

Define "help".

Can we win a few more games with a Star, Joeckel or Milliner?

Sure.

But until we get a QB, we're spinning our wheels. And history shows where that QB needs to be taken.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

I get that. Sorry, but it pisses me off a lot that this thread has turned into an ultimatum that Dorsey is somehow a douche bag or is an incompetent prick stealing credit in green bay.

If he decides not to pick geno, I understand if people want to measure Dorsey's career on how his qb pick does vs geno. We all should. But the agenda of this thread to suddenly piss on our gm because he may not like our guy is overreactive nonsense.

Why make this any more complicated than it is?

ANY QB at #1 and Dorsey is going a good job (so far anyway)

Anything BUT a QB at #1 and Dorsey is a ****ing moron.

Get the argument right. It's NEVER been about just Geno.

[OrtonsPiercedTaint]

Ya know. Dorsey could be saying such wonderful things about Wilson. So Matt Flynn don't look so bad.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by SNR

ANY QB at #1 and Dorsey is going a good job (so far anyway)

Hahahahaha

[ChiefRon]

Reid and Dorsey know the importance of QB, especially in Reid's system. I'm confident they're going to evaluate all possibilities at that position and bring in 2 or 3 guys for competition.

One thing I don't get is how everyone keeps saying "no qb worth #1" when really what they mean is "no stand out impact player clearly better than everyone else and obvious to go #1".

I still think at the end of the day, after evaluating all scenarios and especially taking into consideration the softening of the risk @ #1 with the new CBA, the most reward and least risk scenario will be taking your highest rated QB #1.

[Hammock Parties]

Shut up Zach. You literally don't give a **** who we draft at #1 as long as he plays football.

[Rugby Thompson]

This just proves how arrogant Dorsey is

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

Milliner would almost certainly help this team. The position is a big need. It's really just an issue of taking him at 1.1 because they didn't like a QB. IF Dorsey is dead set against taking a QB, then trading down to 3 or 4 and taking Milliner would be my hope.

I'm not really sure why Dorsey said this. Regardless of what he believes, I don't see how saying this helps the Chiefs in any way. If it doesn't help, why say it?

Just as no QB is Andrew Luck in this class, Dee Milliner is no Haden or even Patrick Peterson. He's not a stellar must-have shut down corner.

Yet nobody talks about this. Milliner is an option for guys like Kiper, but a QB is not. QB, which is INFINITELY more important than CB.

Makes no ****ing sense

[okcchief]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

Dorsey takes Smith - he's the genius behind Rodgers.

Dorsey doesn't take Smith or any other QB R1- he's a Scott Pioli clone.

Got it.

You are exactly right. People who are ready to judge Dorsey on the first pick alone isn't fair in the least. Let the whole draft play out. You might end up with a guy you love later on.

[NJChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by SNR

Just as no QB is Andrew Luck in this class, Dee Milliner is no Haden or even Patrick Peterson. He's not a stellar must-have shut down corner.

Yet nobody talks about this. Milliner is an option for guys like Kiper, but a QB is not. QB, which is INFINITELY more important than CB.

Makes no ****ing sense

The fine tooth comb certainly seems to be passing over the QB position more than the others. No matter what issues the QB has, the other positions are not getting broken down nearly as hard.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

Hahahahaha

LOL U DONT MEAN EVERY QB DO U WUT IF DORSEY THINKS DAYNE CRIST IS TEH BEST?

He doesn't, okay? So quit your trollery. I shouldn't have to give a list of acceptable names every time I want to talk about a QB that could get drafted at #1 overall.

I'm sick of having to clarify an incredibly simple position just because people like you and Chiefnj2 pick apart the tiniest thing.

[Priest31kc]

Originally Posted by SNR

Just as no QB is Andrew Luck in this class, Dee Milliner is no Haden or even Patrick Peterson. He's not a stellar must-have shut down corner.

Yet nobody talks about this. Milliner is an option for guys like Kiper, but a QB is not. QB, which is INFINITELY more important than CB.

Makes no ****ing sense

This.

It boggles my mind.

[Rugby Thompson]

Dorsey was never the reason behind Aaron Rodgers, are people fuccing reeruned?

[splatbass]

Originally Posted by Reaper16

Is the new front office completely tone-deaf? How can Clark, and now Dorsey, not be able to read the tea leaves on how much fans want a new QB?

No NFL team lets the fans make the picks for them.